Australia require just 132 to beat Sri Lanka and secure a place in the women’s cricket World Cup final in India.
The Southern Stars attack dismissed Sri Lanka for 131 in their Super Sixes match in Mumbai on Sunday, after they were sent in by Australian captain Jodie Fields.
Sri Lanka, who upset defending champion England and host nation India in their group games, struggled against both seam and spin.
All six bowlers picked up at least one wicket, with spinner Erin Osborne (3-9 off 10) exerting a vice-like grip on the batters.
Sri Lanka built only one decent partnership with Deepika Rasangika (43 off 77 balls) and Dilani Manodara (21 off 46) adding 49 for the fifth wicket.
They lifted the score from 4-41, but both fell at 90 to effectively end Sri Lanka’s hopes of setting a testing target.
The pace brigade of Megan Schutt (2-34 of 8), Julie Hunter (1-6 off 6) and Holly Ferling (1-23 off 6) made the early breakthroughs.
Osborne, fellow spinner Lisa Sthalekar (2-26 off 8.2) and medium pacer Sarah Coyte (1-31 off 7) worked their way through the middle order and tail.
Pace bowler Ellyse Perry, who missed Friday’s win over England with a stomach upset, was ruled out of Sunday’s match with an ankle injury, allowing teenager Ferling to retain her place. - AAP
